For nearly the last five years, I\u2019ve consistently chased that next story as the Post Independent\u2019s sports editor. Whether that was through game coverage, a student-athlete signing his national letter of intent to play sports at the collegiate level, or even chasing breaking news stories during the summer months, I\u2019ve always been there chasing what\u2019s next. <\/p>\n
Now, there\u2019s a new story for me to chase and ultimately write. Unfortunately, that won\u2019t be here in Garfield County.<\/p>\n
This is my last week with the Post Independent, a place I\u2019ve called home since August of 2015. Really, it\u2019s become my real home. Yes, I\u2019m exceptionally proud of my Pittsburgh roots and all that it\u2019s made me into, but I\u2019ve experienced some major life firsts here: I married my wife, Karlie, in Glenwood Springs in July 2018, and my son Julian was born at Valley View Hospital in September 2018. <\/p>\n
For that, Glenwood Springs, and Garfield County as a whole, will always be home for my family and me.<\/p>\n
But we\u2019re hoping Moffat County and the town of Craig becomes our new home where we can grow our family, settle down into the house we just bought, and really put down roots, because I\u2019ve accepted an offer to become the new editor of the Craig Daily, starting Thursday morning. <\/p>\n
A little over a year ago when the Post Independent hired Jerry Raehal on as the new publisher, we had a 1-on-1 meeting at Sacred Grounds early one morning. In that meeting, Jerry asked me where I saw myself in 3 years. For a young kid \u2014 just 26 years old at the time \u2014 that question was a bit frightening because I hadn\u2019t really thought that far ahead. After all, my wife just had our baby and we were running on little sleep and high stress as new parents. I took some time to collect myself after he asked that question and said I wanted to be in charge of my own newsroom and paper someday. <\/p>\n
I never thought someday would be in roughly a year, but I\u2019m incredibly thrilled to take on this new challenge. <\/p>\n
That said, I\u2019m equally as sad to say goodbye to this wonderful community, its people, and its general way of life. <\/p>\n
Through my sports coverage and my side job as an associate at Lowe\u2019s, I\u2019ve befriended some wonderful people that truly gave me a sense joy each and every day. Some have become close friends that I\u2019ll continue to be close with throughout the rest of my time on this earth, while there are others I know I can turn to in a time of need and they\u2019ll be there to help. There are great people in this community, and for that I\u2019m thankful. <\/p>\n
I have loved being part of this community, and being recognized for my work on the street, at the store, even in neighboring towns. Time and time again it blows my mind that people read and remember the paper and the people behind it. The best large-market writers can hope for is indifference. But in Glenwood Springs, I felt acknowledged, respected, and genuinely cared about by many of the PI\u2019s readers that I\u2019ve had the chance to know. <\/p>\n
The hardest part about leaving isn\u2019t the packing, or the stress and anxiety of starting a new job in a new town with new people and a different day-to-day life. No, it\u2019s leaving this community, one that\u2019s been so good to my family and me throughout the years. <\/p>\n
A special thanks to all at the Post Independent who put up with not only me and my incessant whining, but also my son\u2019s throughout the day. I was Mr. Mom during the day for my son after my wife went back to work last December. It\u2019s been very challenging to try and balance working with watching my son and helping him grow and develop, but seeing him continue to grow into an awesome little guy that can light up a room has been incredibly rewarding.<\/p>\n
I think the PI staff will miss Julian\u2019s smiling face and cute little laughter much more than they\u2019ll miss me!<\/p>\n
In the end though, life has to move forward. Everything has its time and everything ends. I\u2019m forever grateful for my time here in Garfield County, and I\u2019m thankful that the community at large embraced me the way that it has all these years. Telling the stories of your sons, daughters, grandsons and granddaughters, nieces and nephews, students and classmates has been the thrill of a lifetime. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s time for me to write a new story. Until we meet again.<\/p>\n
jcarney@postindependent.com<\/p>\n